I have made school mornings easier by putting breakfast out

[PrunellaMcTat]

I realise this wouldn't be for everyone, but it's really made a positive difference for us.

Before:
16yo dd moping about saying she can't face breakfast.
14yo ds in the kitchen frying eggs and making a mess.
10yo dd eating her body-weight in sugary crap cereal.

So I changed it a bit and now when everyone gets up (about 20 minutes after me) breakfast is out on the table. I do something different every morning, it's very simple, no choice, just sit down and eat what's there. They love it!

This week was:
M - croissants and jam and milo
T - porridge and fruit
W - brioche toast
Th - Yogurt and fruit
F - Eggy bread

I put out a hot drink, a bottle of OJ or water, and their vitamins.

It takes me 5 minutes, and they clear it all up when they're done. Everyone has been so much more cheerful in the morning. I've been doing it for a few weeks now - I include 5 simple breakfast choices along with my big weekend shop. It hasn't cost any more. The teens have even been getting up to join in breakfast on flexible learning days (when they don't have to be at school).

Some of my friends did this for their teens - i remember staying over when visiting and it worked so well for them. Everything was set on the table the night before, each child had to take turns in getting it ready. Game changer.

Great idea to get the kids on rota to do it. Will incorporate that when I find myself flagging.

I do the same. I've found that things that can be made in advance make it even better. Eg the eggs baked in muffin cups that you can make, keep in the fridge and then just bung in the microwave

I make my kids their breakfast - toast or pancakes / cereal etc

makes it much more organised and stress free and like knowing they go off to school full up

husband says I'm making them lazy!!

My mum used to do this in the sixties ! (Not something different every day probably)
There would have been a couple of cereals and the table laid.

she probably made the toast and possibly porridge too in the kitchen.

I’m one of 5 spread over 9 years.
My mother always did this - table laid the night before and breakfast ready when we got up

I have started doing similar since wfh. We went from mad morning rush with angst and upset to a calm morning and time for a chat. i agree with you it is a total gamechanger.

I try and give the Dcs a 'cooked' breakfast although sometimes that just means beans on toast.

I love some of your ideas OP and will try that too.

Yes we do this, I have teens also. Lately it tends to be porridge, which I hope is warming as no heating on.

Always did this.
Uniforms ready.
Lunches made.
Breakfast laid out.
Smoothy made
Bags/gear/shoes, ready at the door.

Mornings very quiet and calm as a result.

None of my children are particularly morning people so there was/is very little dialogue.

Breakfast was something my mum made for me by the time I woke up until I left home. I thought it was a norm?
My teen dc has his breakfast ready for him when he wakes up on school days.
Am I missing something? Children making own breakfast norm in UK?

On the subject of eggy bread, I make eggy bread but using pancake batter. It makes it much lighter and quite fluffy and my DS who dislikes egg can tolerate it really well.

That sounds really nice OP, can I come round for breakfast? 😋

My grandparents used to do this every morning, have all the table laid out for breakfast, tea brewing in a tea pot, fresh orange juice in a glass jug, fresh toast in the toast holder, butter dish out, home made jams/ marmalade out, freshly cooked eggs/bacon available… It’s really nice and homely, I really wish I was organised enough to do this in the morning 🤣

I've always put breakfasts out. Kids are teens now.
Drinks, cereal, croissants, vitamins etc. I can't be doing with morning faffing and stress.

I always try to make them breakfast, I think it's really important. But you've reminded me that when I was a young teen one of my jobs around the house was to set the breakfast table the night before; I might start this up with my own kids!

That sounds lovely. 😊

Sounds alient to me but heyho.

I'd want more protein.

@Remmy123 I don't think so. I think you are making memories enjoying time with your children in the morning and teaching a good habit to eat breakfast. As long as you enjoy it, why not?

@kingtamponthefurred I don't really think the food choices were the point of the thread 🙄

This is making me feel stupid. You put out hot drinks and bowls of porridge on the kitchen table at night and your teenagers eat it in the morning? I know it can't be that but... I don't get it.

Isn’t the porridge/ toast cold by the time people come to eat it?

🤣🤣 bingo!

How do you make porridge the night before? t takes 2 mins in the microwave? Or you eat it cold?

Thats what I thought

@WrongWayApricot she puts it out in the morning not the night before. Instead of all the kids trying to make their own different breakfast.

i assume hot things are made just as the kids are coming down, it’s not hard to time. It’s a great idea OP and what all do as kids get bigger